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Seven centuries of the gong show

THE roots of Britain’s honours system can be traced back to the 14th century when Edward III created the Most Noble Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry that was available to only 25 knights.

By the end of the century, King Richard II was handing out honours in the form of gifts or gold neck chains as a reward for loyal service. Chains of honour went to certain officers of the crown as a special mark of distinction.

Until the beginning of the 19th century, honours in the form of appointments to the order of chivalry in England were restricted to members of the aristocracy and high- ranking military officers. From then on, those to be honoured were selected by the prime minister of the day and came from wider backgrounds.

Nowadays, the so-called “gongs” are supposed to recognise individuals who have excelled in their professional lives or